Wall base trim assembly



Jan. 11, 1966 J. G. OBRIEN 3,228,160

WALL BASE TRIM ASSEMBLY Filed May 6, 1963 INVEIiTOR. JOHN Guzuuom O BRIEM United States Patent Ollice 3,228,160 WALL BASE TRIM ASSEMBLY John Glennon OBrien, Glen OBrien Movable Partition Co. Inc., 4905 Lister St., Kansas City, Mo. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,340 9 Claims. (Cl. 52242) This invention relates to structures used to trim the interior walls of buildings adjacent the floor thereof, and more particularly to base trim assemblies for interior walls such as movable partitions which may be readily assembled for subdividing interior space into individual rooms, otflces and the like.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an improved base trim structure adapted to be constructed of metal or plastic and providing a front portion which may be removably secured in position without the use of exposed fastening means such as screws and the like; to provide a trim structure including a base plate with a slideway on the rear thereof for movably receiving attaching members having resilient portions for engaging wall portions to resiliently secure the base plate in position; to provide such a base plate that is particularly adapted to be formed of metal extrusions whereby the structure is of uniform configuration throughout the length thereof; to provide a wall base trim assembly wherein the wall has a bottom anchor strip with an upstanding side flange and the base plate and attaching member are adapted to be positioned with said flange therebetween to resiliently secure the base plate to said wall with the upper margin of the base plate overlying a wall panel; and to provide a wall base trim assembly that is economical to manufacture, quickly and easily assembled and disassembled that when installed has durability with the appearance of completeness and permanency.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a wall base trim assembly embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a base plate and resilient attaching member mounted in the slide-way thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View through a lower portion of a partition with one base plate in assembled position and another being moved into assembled position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a wall assembly that extends upwardly from the floor 2 that employs studs 3 and wall panels 4. In the structure illustrated, a lower strip or sub-channel 5 is mounted on the floor 2 and extends longitudinally of the wall, presenting an upwardly extending side flange 6. In structures such as partitions wherein there are two exposed faces, the lower strip preferably is in the form of a channel having a web 7 resting on the floor surface 8 with spaced side flanges 6 extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in upper edges 9. The studs 3 may be channels; however, in the illustrated structure, they are in the form of H-sections having a web 10 arranged transversely of the Wall with opposed side flanges 11 and 12 extending from the web, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

An upper strip or panel support member 13 is suitably secured to the stud 3 and extends therefrom longitudinally of the wall in vertically spaced relation from the lower strip 5, said upper strip forming a seat on which the partition panel 4 rests. In the illustrated structure, the upper strip 13 is in the form of a channel having a horizontal web 14- with upwardly extending side flanges 3,228,163 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 15 and the panel 4 is preferably arranged to rest on the web 14 with outer side surface 16 substantially engaging the inner surfaces of the side flanges 15 of the upper strip 13 and the inner surfaces of the flanges 11 and 12 of the stud 3. In this structure, the panels are supported in a manner whereby there are openings 17 above the lower strip flange edges 9 for entry of attaching members as later described. The openings 17, in the illustrated structure, are defined by the lower strip 13, upper edges 9 of the side flanges of the bottom strip 5, and preferably extend between studs 3.

A base plate 18 is mounted on the wall to extend longitudinally of the lower portion thereof and from the floor upwardly whereby the upper margin of said base plate overlaps the lower portion of the panels 4. The base plate 18 is preferably formed of suitable material such as metal or plastic as by extrusion wherein it has substantially uniform configuration for the entire length thereof. The base plate includes a wall 19 having an outer face 20 and a plurality of spaced inwardly projecting longitudinally extending member portions 21, 22, 23 and 24. The member portions 21 and 22 form a pair positioned intermediate t-he height of the base plate and adapted to be connected to an attaching member 25 whereby the at taching member will extend through the opening 17, as later described. The member portion 23 is at the upper part of the base plate 18 and, in the illustrated structure, the upper margin of the base plate is curved inwardly, terminating in an edge 26 adapted to engage the Wall and, in the illustrated structure, said edge engages the outer face of the flanges 11 and 12 of the stud. The member portion 24 is at the lower end of the base plate and has an inner edge 27 adapted to engage the outer surface of the adjacent flange 6 of the lower strip 5. In the structure illustrated, the bottom surface 28 of the portion 24 and the plate 18 are inclined outwardly and downwardly, terminating in an edge 29 spaced outwardly from the face 20 of the base plate, said edge being adapted to substantially engage the floor surface 8. It is preferred that the outer lower portion of the base plate be curved outwardly as at 30 to the edge 29 for neatuess of appearance.

The member portions 21 and 22 extend inwardly from the plate wall 19 with inner portions converging or directed toward each other in the form of flanges 31, terminating in spaced relation to cooperate with the plate 'therebetween to form a slide-way 32. In the illustrated structure, the slide-way is in the form of a T -slot which extends for the length of the base plate. The attaching member 25 has a head 33 slidably mounted in the slideway 32 and a finger 34 that projects inwardly and curves downwardly and outwardly to a straight portion 35 and then downwardly and inwardly to form an end portion 36. The finger 34 is preferably a flat spring-like member that projects through the opening 17 and resiliently engages the inner face 37 of the adjacent side flange 6 of the lower strip to resiliently secure the base plate relative to the wall. The attaching member 25, in the structure illustrated, may be formed by extrusion and cut to desired lengths whereby the finger provides a strong spring action that will securely hold the base plate 18 in position.

In assembling the base plate, it is cut to the desired length and a suitable number of attaching members are arranged with the heads 33 slidably mounted in the slideway 32. The attaching members are then moved to the desired spaced relation. The base plate with the attaching members thereon is then moved to a position longitudinally of the wall with the attaching members extending into the openings 17 with the lower end portions 36 of the fingers 34 inwardly of the adjacent side flange 6 whereby said side flange is positioned between the lower end of the finger and the member portion 24. The edge 26 of the member portion 23 will then substantially engage a wall portion above the space 17, as illustrated by the position of the base plate being installed on the left side of the Wall portion in FIG. 3. The base plate 18 is then moved downwardly with the inclined lower portion 36 of the finger camming inwardly so that when the base plate is moved to engage the edge 29 with the surface 8 of the floor 2 the flange 6 is resiliently gripped between the edge 27 of the member portion 24 and the flat portion of the finger 34. The arrangement of the bottom surface of the plate 18 also cooperates with the finger whereby the edge 26 is held tightly against the wall portion, as for example, the outer surface of the flanges 11 and 12 of the stud 3. This provides a tight mounting which resists pulling of the base plate outwardly from the wall and requires lifting of the base plate 18 in order to remove same.

This wall base trim assembly provides a neat appearance and an economical structure that is easily applied with a selective arrangement as to the spacing and number of the attaching members with both the attaching members 25 and the base plate 18 requiring only the cutting to length for installation, with no exposed fastening devices.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wall assembly, a stud, a wall panel supported by the stud having an outer face, a bottom strip below said panel and having a side flange extending upwardly from adjacent the floor with inner and outer faces, a removable base trim plate having an upper margin engaging the wall outer face in spaced relation to the floor, said base trim plate having a lower portion substantially engag ing the floor and an inwardly extending member portion engaging said side flange outer face, means on said base plate defining an inwardly opening slide-way above said side flange, and an attaching device on said base trim plate detachably interengaged with said side flange to secure the base trim plate to said bottom strip, said attaching device being a head slidable in said slide-way and a resilient finger projecting from said head behind the side flange and resiliently engaged with the inner face thereof to grip said side flange between said finger and said inwardly extending member portion on the base trim plate.

2. A base plate and attaching member construction as recited in claim 1 wherein the slide-way is T-shaped and the head and finger of the attaching member are integral with the finger curving inwardly and downwardly then back toward the base trim plate and terminating in an end portion for engaging over the side flange, said finger being a flat spring-like member and having aflat face engaging said inner face of the side flangeof the bottom strip.

3. In a wall assembly, a stud, a wall panel, means secured to the stud and supporting the well panel, a bottom strip below said panel and having a side flange extending upwardly from adjacent the floor, said panel being spaced from said bottom strip providing an opening for access to both sides of said side flange, a removable base trim plate having an upper margin overlapping and engaging the panel, said base trim plate having a lower portion substantially engaging the floor and an inwardly extending member portion engaging an outer face of said side flange, a pair of spaced inwardly projecting longitudinally extending member portions having converging inner portion-s configured to present a slide-way therebetween of uniform configuration throughout the length of said base plate, and an attaching device on said base plate and detachably interengaged' with said side flange to secure the base plate to said bottom strip, said attaching device having a head slidable in said slide-way and a resilient finger projecting from said head into said space between the panel and bottom strip behind the side flange and resiliently engaging an inner face thereof to grip said side flange between said finger and said inwardly projecting longitudinally extending member portion on the base trim plate.

4. A base plate and attaching member construction as recited in claim 3 wherein the slide-way is T-shaped and the head and finger of the attaching member are integral with the finger curving inwardly and downwardly then back toward the base trim plate and terminating in a downwardly and inwardly inclined end portion for engaging over the side flange and effect movement of the lower portion of the finger behind said side flange upon downward movement of the base trim plate, said finger being a flat spring-like member and having a flat face engaging said side flange of the bottom strip.

5. In a wall assembly having a stud upstanding from a floor, vertically spaced upper and lower strips secured to the stud and extending therefrom, the lower strip having a side flange extending upwardly from the floor and terminating in an edge spaced below the upper strip, and a wall panel seated on said upper strip, a removable base trim plate, means on said base trim plate having converging inner portions configured to present a slideway therebetween of uniform configuration throughout the length of said base trim plate, said base trim plate having an upper margin overlapping the panel, means on said plate for engaging the adjacent side flange of the lower strip, said base trim plate having a bottom portion engaging the floor in outwardly spaced relation to said side flange, an attaching member slidable in said slideway, and said attaching member having a fiat finger projecting inwardly and downwardly behind and in engagement with the side flange of the lower strip to bias said means on the base trim plate for engaging said side flange into engagement therewith to resiliently secure the base trim plate to said lower strip.

6. In a wall assembly having a stud upstanding from a floor, vertically spaced upper and lower strips secured to the stud and extending therefrom, the lower strip having a side flange extending upwardly from the floor and terminating in an edge spaced below the upper strip, and a Wall panel seated on said upper strip, a removable base trim plate having a plurality of spaced inwardly projecting longitudinally extending member portions, a pair of said member portions having converging inner portions configured to present a slide-way therebetwecn of uniform configuration throughout the length of said base trim plate, a third of said member portions being along the upper edge of the base trim plate and overlapping the panel, a fourth of said member portions being adjacent the bottom edge of said plate for engaging the adjacent side flange of the lower strip, said base trim plate and fourth member portion having a bottom surface inclined downwardly and outwardly and terminating in an edge substantially engaging the floor in outwardly spaced relation to said side flange, an attaching member slidable in said slide-way, said attaching member having a head engaging inner surfaces of said pair of member portions, and said attaching member including a flat finger fixed on said head and projecting inwardly and downwardly behind and in engagement with the side flange of the lower strip to bias said fourth member portion into engagement with the side flange and the third member portion into engagement with the panel to resiliently secure the base trim plate to said lower strip.

7. A base plate and attaching member construction as recited in claim 6 wherein the third member portion is an inwardly curved upper margin of the base trim plate of uniform configuration throughout the length thereof.

8. A base plate and attaching member construction as recitedin claim 6 wherein the slide-way is T shaped' and the head and finger of the attaching member are integral with the finger curving inwardly and downwardly then back toward the base trim plate and terminating in a downwardly and inwardly inclined end portion for engaging over the side flange and effect movement of the lower portion of the finger behind said side flange upon downward movement of the base trim plate, said finger being a flat spring-like member and having a flat face engaging said side flange of the lower strip.

9. In a wall assembly, a wall panel having an outer face, means supporting the wall panel in upwardly spaced relation to a floor, a bottom strip below said panel and having a side flange extending upwardly from adjacent the floor substantialy in a plane of said wall panel outer face, said side flange having inner and outer faces, a removable base trim plate for covering the space between said wall panel and the floor, said base trim plate having an upper margin extending in overlying engagement with a lower margin of said wall panel outer face, said base trim plate having a lower portion substantially engaging the floor and an inwardly extending member portion engaging said outer face of the side flange, said base trim plate having an inwardly opening way spaced above said side flange and extending the length of said base trim plate, and an attaching device having a head slidably mounted in said way and a resilient finger extending downwardly from said head and engaging the inner face of said side flange to bias the upper and lower portions of said base trim plate into engagement with the wall panel and side flange respectively to secure the base trim plate thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,689 11/1917 Davis 94-32 2,186,953 1/ 1940 Bohnsack 52584 2,203,119 6/1940 Wollaeger 52-717 2,359,505 10/ 1944 Barnes 52287 2,360,500 10/ 1944 Johnson 52222 3,063,522 11/ 1962 Gratf 52242 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,278,753 1961 France.

164,249 1905 Germany.

685,617 1953 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES American Builder, p. 9 7, March 1942.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, RICHARD W. COOKE, IR.,

Examiners.

I. E. MURTAGH, Assistant Examiner. 

